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HER Number:

MDV112541

Name:

Earthwork Pits on Woodbury Common

Summary

A concentration of earthwork pits and trenches of Second World War date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Woodbury Common. A number of the earthwork pits are visible on aerial photographs of 1954 and although the earthworks are not clearly visible after this date, subtle earthworks may well still survive.

A concentration of earthwork pits and trenches of Second World War date are visible on aerial photographs of 1946 onwards, on Woodbury Common. The earthworks are dispersed across an area of approximately 3.9 hectares of moderate to steep west and east facing slope, either side of a prominent ridge occupied to the south by Woodbury Hillfort and dissected by the B3180. The earthworks are dominated by concentrations of small circular to irregular shaped pits and trenches generally between 1.5 to 7m in length/diameter. The earthworks likely represent either artillery shell craters or weapon pits, or combination of the two, associated with Dalditch infantry camp located further to the south. The earthworks are likely to be more extensive than has been transcribed here owing to the subtle nature of the features. Other concentrations of similar such earthwork features are visible across Woodbury Common to the north and south. A number of the earthwork pits are visible on aerial photographs of 1954 and although the earthworks are not clearly visible after this date, subtle earthworks may well still survive.